Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

4 I'll mention Rahab with due praise,
in Babylon's applauses join,
The fame of Ethiopia raise,

with that of Tyre and Palestine;
And grant that some amongst them born,
Their age and country did adorn.
5 But still of Sion I'll aver,

that many such from her proceed; The Almighty shall establish her 6 his general list shall show, when read, That such a person there was born, And such did such an age adorn. 7 He'll Sion find with numbers fill'd of such as merit high renown; For hand and voice musicians skill'd; and (her transcending fame to crown,) Of such she shall successions bring, Like water from a living spring. PSALM 88.

10 thee, my God and Saviour,

I'

To By day and night address my cry:

2 Vouchsafe my mournful voice to hear;
To my distress incline thine ear.
3 For seas of trouble me invade,
My soul draws nigh to death's cold shade:
4 Like one whose strength and hopes
are fled,

They number me among the dead:
5 Like those, who, shrouded in the
grave,
From thee no more remembrance have;
6 Cast off from thy sustaining care,
Down to the confines of despair.
7 Thy wrath has hard upon me lain,
Afflicting me with restless pain;
Me all thy mountain waves have press'd,
Too weak, alas, to bear the least.

8 Removed from friends, I sigh alone,
In a loathed dungeon laid, where none
A visit will vouchsafe to me,
Confined, past hopes of liberty.

9 My eyes from weeping never cease;
They waste, but still my griefs increase;
Yet daily, Lord, to thee I've pray'd,
With out-stretched hands invoked thy
aid.

10 Wilt thou by miracle revive

The dead, whom thou forsook'st alive?
From death restore, thy praise to sing,
Whom thou from prison wouldst not
bring?

11 Shall the mute grave thy love confess?
A mouldering tomb thy faithfulness?
12 Thy truth and power renown obtain,
Where darkness and oblivion reign?
13 To thee, O Lord, I cry forlorn;
My prayer prevents the early morn:
14 Why bast thou, Lord, my soul forsook,
Nor once vouchsafed a gracious look?
15 Prevailing sorrows bear me down,
Which from my youth with me have
grown,

Thy terrors past distract my mind,
And fears of blacker days behind."
16 Thy wrath hath burst upon my head,
Thy terrors fill my soul with dread;

17 Environ'd as with waves combined,
And for a general deluge join'd.
18 My lovers, friends, familiars. all
Removed from sight, and out of call;
To dark oblivion all retired,
Dead, or at least to me expired.
PSALM 89.

THY mercies, Lord, shall be my song,
my song on them shall ever dwell;
To ages yet unborn, my tongue
thy never-failing truth shall tell.
2 I have affirm'd, and still maintain,
thy mercy shall for ever last;

Thy truth, that does the heavens sustain,
like them shall stand for ever fast.
3 Thus spak'st thou by thy Prophet's
voice:

"With David I a league have made; "To him, my servant, and my choice,

"by solemn oath this grant convey'd: 4"While earth, and seas, and skies endure.

"thy seed shall in my sight remain; "To them thy throne I will ensure, "they shall to endless ages reign." 5 For such stupendous truth and love, both heaven and earth just praises owe By choirs of angels sung above,

and by assembled saints below. 6 What seraph of celestial birth

to vie with Israel's God shall dare? Or who among the gods of earth

with our Almighty Lord compare? 7 With reverence and religious dread, his saints should to his temple press; His fear through all their hearts should spread,

who his Almighty name confess.

8 Lord God of armies, who can boast
of strength or power like thine re
nown'd?

Of such a numerous, faithful host,

as that which does thy throne surround? 9 Thou dost the lawless sea control,

and change the prospect of the deep; Thou mak'st the sleeping billows roll; thou mak'st the rolling billows sleep. 10 Thou break'st in pieces Rahab's pride, and didst oppressing power disarm; Thy scatter'd foes have dearly try'd

the force of thy resistless arm.

11 In thee the sovereign right remains of earth and heaven; thee, Lord, alone The world, and all that it contains,

their Maker and Preserver own. 12 The poles on which the globe does res were form'd by thy creating voice; Tabor and Hermon, east and west,

in thy sustaining power rejoice. 15 Thy arm is mighty, strong thy hand, yet, Lord, thou dost with justice reign; 14 Possess'd of absolute command,

thou truth and mercy dost maintain. 15 Happy, thrice happy they, who hear thy sacred trumpet's joyful sound;

[blocks in formation]

vance,

whose conquests from thy favour spring; 18 The Lord of hosts is our defence,

and Israel's God our Israel's King. 19 Thus spak'st thou by thy Prophet's voice:

"A mighty champion I will send; From Judah's tribe have I made choice "of one, who shall the rest defend. 20 "My servant David I have found, "with holy oil anointed him; 21 "Him shall the hand support, that crown'd,

"and guard, that gave the diadem. 22 "No prince from him shall tribute force,

"no son of strife shall him annoy; 23" His spiteful foes I will disperse, "and them before his face destroy. 24" My truth and grace shall him sustain; "his armies, in well-order'd ranks, 25 "Shall conquer, from the Tyrian Main "to Tigris' and Euphrates' banks. 26 "Me for his father he shall take,

"his God and Rock of safety call; 27"Him I my first-born son will make, "and earthly kings his subjects all. 28 "To him my mercy I'll secure,

66 my covenant make for ever fast: 29" His seed for ever shall endure; "his throne, till heaven dissolves, shall last.

PART II.

20 "But if his heirs my law forsake, "and from my sacred precepts stray; S1 "If they my righteous statutes break, "nor strictly my commands obey; 32 "Their sins I'll visit with a rod,

"and for their folly make them smart; 33"Yet will not cease to be their God, "Nor from my truth, like them, depart. 34 "My covenant I will ne'er revoke,

"but in remembrance fast retain; "The thing that once my lips have spoke "shall in eternal force remain. 35"Once I have sworn, but once for all, "and made my holiness the tie, "That I my grant will ne'er recall,

"nor to my servant David lie: 36"Whose throne and race the con

stant sun

"shall, like his course, establish'd see; 37" Of this my oath, thou conscious moon, "in heaven my faithful witness be." 39 Such was thy gracious promise,Lord; but thou hast now our tribes forsook,

Thy own Anointed hast abborr'd,

and turn'd on him thy wrathful look. 39 Thou seemest to have render'd void the covenant with thy servant made; Thou hast his dignity destroy'd,

and in the dust his honour laid. 40 Of strong holds thou hast him bereft, and brought his bulwarks to decay; 41 His frontier coasts defenceless left, a public scorn, and common prey. 42 His ruin does glad triumphs yield to foes, advanced by thee to might; 43 Thou hast his conquering sword unsteel'd,

his valour turn'd to shameful flight. 44 His glory is to darkness fled,

his throne is levell'd with the ground; 45 His youth to wretched bondage led, with shame o'erwhelm'd and sorrow drown'd.

46 How long shall we thy absence moura. wilt thou for ever, Lord, retire? Shall thy consuming anger burn,

till that and we at once expire? 47 Consider, Lord, how short a space thou dost for mortal life ordain; No method to prolong the race,

but loading it with grief and pain. 48 What man is he that can control death's strict unalterable doom? Or rescue from the grave his soul,

the grave that must mankind entomb 49 Lord, where's thy love, thy boundless grace,

the oath to which thy truth did seal, Consign'd to David and his race,

the grant which time shall ne'er repeal? 50 See how thy servants treated are with infamy, reproach and spite; Which in my silent breast I bear,

from nations of licentious might. 51 How they,reproaching thy great name, have made thy servant's hope their jest; 52 Yet thy just praises we'll proclaim, and ever sing, The Lord be blest.

PSALM 90.

LORD, the Saviour and defence

of us thy chosen race,

From age to age thou still hast been our sure abiding-place.

2

Before thou brought'st the mountains forth,

or the earth and world didst frame, Thou always wast the mighty God, and ever art the same.

3 Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,
of which he first was made;
And when thou speak'st the word,Return,
'tis instantly obey'd.

4 For in thy sight a thousand years
are like a day that's past,
Or like a watch in dead of night,

whose hours unminded waste. 5 Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood, we vanish hence like dreams;

[merged small][ocr errors]

At first we grow like grass that feels the sun's reviving beams: 6 But howsoever fresh and fair

its morning beauty shows; Tis all cut down, and wither'd quite, before the evening close.

"

8 We by thine anger are consumed, and by thy wrath dismay'd; Our public crimes and secret sins before thy sight are laid. 9 Beneath thy anger's sad effects our drooping days we spend; Our unregarded years break off, like tales that quickly end. 10 Our term of time is seventy years, an age that few survive;

But if, with more than common strength, to eighty we arrive,

Yet then our boasted strength decays, to sorrow turn'd and pain;

So soon the slender thread is cut, and we no more remain.

PART II.

11 But who thy anger's dread effects does, as he ought, revere?

And yet thy wrath does fall or rise, as more or less we fear.

12 So teach us, Lord, the uncertain sum of our short days to mind, That to true wisdom all our hearts may ever be inclined.

ISO to thy servants, Lord, return,
and speedily relent!

As we forsake our sins, do thou
revoke our punishment.
14 To satisfy and cheer our souls,
thy early mercy send;
That we may all our days to come
in joy and comfort spend.

15 Let happy times, with large amends,
dry up our former tears,
Or equal at the least the term

of our afflicted years.

16 To all thy servants, Lord, let this
thy wondrous work be known,
And to our offspring yet unborn,
thy glorious power be shown.
17 Let thy bright rays upon us shine,
give thou our work success;
The glorious work we have in hand,
do thou vouchsafe to bless.

PSALM 91.

5 No terrors that surprise oy night Shall thy undaunted courage fright,

nor deadly shafts that fly by day; 6 No plague, of unknown rise, that kills In darkness, nor infectious ills,

that in the hottest season slay. 7 A thousand at thy side shall die, At thy right hand ten thousand lie, while thy firm health untouch'd re mains;

8 Thou only shalt look on, and see The wicked's dismal tragedy,

and count the sinner's mournful gains 9 Because with well-placed confidence, Thou mak'st the Lord thy sure defence, and on the Highest dost rely; 10 Therefore no ill shall thee befall, Nor to thy healthful dwelling shall

any infectious plagues draw nigh. 11 For he,throughout thy happy days, To keep thee safe in all thy ways,

shall give his angels strict commands 12 And they, lest thou shouldst chance

to meet

With some rough stone to wound thy feet, shall bear thee safely in their hands. 13 Dragons and asps that thirst for blood, And lions roaring for their food,

beneath his conquering feet shall lie: 14 Because he loved and honour'd me, Therefore, says God, I'll set him free,

and fix his glorious throne on high. 15 He'll call: I'll answer when he calls, And rescue him when ill befalls;

increase his honour and his wealth: 16 And when, with undisturb'd content, His long and happy life is spent,

his end I'll crown with saving health. PSALM 92.

HOW good and pleasant must it be

to thank the Lord most high; And with repeated hymns of praise his name to magnify!

2 With every morning's early dawn his goodness to relate;

And of his constant truth, each night, the glad effects repeat!

8 To ten-string'd instruments we'll sing, with tuneful psalteries join'd; And to the harp, with solemn sounds, for sacred use design'd.

4 For thro' thy wondrous works, O Lord, thou mak'st my heart rejoice;

HE that has God his guardian made, The thoughts of them shall make me glad,

Shall, under the Almighty's shade,

secure and undisturb'd abide :

2 Thus to my soul of him I'll say,
He is my fortress and my stay,

my God,in whom I will confide. S His tender love and watchful care Shall free thee from the fowler's snare, and from the noisome pestilence: 44 He over thee his wings shall spread, And cover thy unguarded head;

his truth shall be thy strong defence.

and shout with cheerful voice. 5,6 How wondrous are thy works, O how deep are thy decrees! [Lord! Whose winding tracks, in secret laid, no stupid sinner sees.

7 He little thinks, when wicked men, like grass, look fresh and gay, How soon their short-lived splendour for ever pass away. [must 8,9 But thou, my God, art still most high and all thy lofty foes,

Who thought they might securely sin, shall be o'erwhelm'd with woes.

10 Whilst thou exalt'st my sovereign power,

and mak'st it largely spread; And with refreshing oil anoint'st my consecrated head.

11 I soon shall see my stubborn foes
to utter ruin brought;
And hear the dismal end of those
who have against me fought.

12 But righteous men, like fruitful palms,
shall make a glorious show;
As cedars that on Lebanon

in stately order grow.

13, 14 These, planted in the house of God,
within his courts shall thrive;
Their vigour and their lustre both
shall in old age revive.

15 Thus will the Lord his justice show;
and God, my strong defence,
Shall due rewards to all the world
impartially dispense.

PSALM 93.

ITH glory clad, with strength
array'd,

WITH

the Lord, that o'er all nature reigns, The world's foundation strongly laid,

and the vast fabric still sustains. 2 How surely 'stablish'd is thy throne, which shall no change or period see' For thou, O Lord, and thou alone,

art God from all eternity! 5,4 The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice, and toss the troubled waves on high;| But God above can still their noise,

and make the angry sea comply. 5 Thy promise, Lord, is ever sure; and they that in thy house would dwell, That happy station to secure, must still in holiness excel.

PSALM 94.

GOD, to whom revenge belongs,
thy vengeance now disclose;
Arise, thou Judge of all the earth,
and crush thy haughty foes.
S, 4 How long, O Lord, shall sinful men
their solemn triumphs make?
How long their wicked actions boast,
and insolently speak?

5,6 Not only they thy saints oppress,
but, unprovoked, they spill
The widow's and the stranger's blood,
and helpless orphans kill.

7 "And yet the Lord shall ne'er per-
profanely thus they speak,
"Nor any notice of our deeds

"the God of Jacob take."

[cieve,"

|

Shall earth's great Judge not punisi
who his known will defy? (those
11 He fathoms all the thoughts of men
to him their hearts lie bare;
His eye surveys them all, and sees
how vain their counsels are.
PART II.

12 Bless'd is the man, whom thou, 0
Lord,

in kindness dost chastise,

And by thy sacred rules to walk
dost lovingly advise.

13 This man shall rest and safety find
in seasons of distress;

Whilst God prepares a pit for those that stubbornly transgress.

14 For God will never from his saints
his favour wholly take;

His own possession and his lot
he will not quite forsake.

15 The world shall then confess thee just
in all that thou hast done;
And those that choose thy upright ways
shall in those paths go on.

16 Who will appear in my behalf,

when wicked men invade?

Or who, when sinners would oppress,
my righteous cause shall plead?
17, 18, 19 Long since had I in silence slept,
but that the Lord was near,
To stay me when I slipt; when said,

my troubled heart to cheer.
20 Wilt thou, who art a God most just,
Who make the law a fair pretence,
their sinful throne sustain,
their wicked ends to gain?
21 Against the lives of righteous men
they form their close design;
And blood of innocents to spill

in solemn league combine.
22 But my defence is firmly placed
in God, the Lord most high:
He is my rock, to which I may
for refuge always fly.

23 The Lord shall cause their ill designs
on their own heads to fall:
He in their sins shall cut them off,
our God shall slay them all.
PSALM 95.

COME, loud anthems let us sing,
Loud thanks to our Almighty King
For we our voices high should raise,
When our salvation's Rock we praise.
2 Into his presence let us haste,
To thank him for his favours past;
To him address, in joyful songs,
The praise that to his name belongs.
3 For God the Lord, enthroned in sta
Is, with unrivall'd glory, great:

8 At length, ye stupid fools, your wants A King superior far to all

endeavour to discern.

In folly will you still proceed

and wisdom never learn?

Whom gods the heathen falsely call 4 The depths of earth are in his hand, Her secret wealth at his command;

9, 10 Can he be deaf,who form'd the ear? The strength of hills that reach the skis

or blind, who framed the eye?

Subjected to his envire lies,

5 The rolling ocean's vast abyss,
By the same sovereign right is his;
"Tis moved by his Almighty hand,
That form'd and fix'd the solid land.
60 let us to his courts repair,
And bow with adoration there;
Down on our knees devoutly all
Before the Lord, our Maker, fall.
7 For he's our God, our Shepherd he,
His flock and pasture sheep are we :
If then you'll, like his flock, draw near,
To-day, if you his voice will hear,

8 Let not your harden'd hearts renew
Your father's crimes and judgments too;
Nor here provoke my wrath, as they
In desert plains of Meribah.

9 When thro' the wilderness they moved, And me with fresh temptations proved, They still, through unbelief, rebell'd, Whilst they my wondrous works beheld. 10 They forty years my patience grieved, Though daily I their wants relieved. Then-Tis a faithless race, I said, Whose heart from me has always stray'd. 11 They ne'er will tread my righteous path;

Therefore to them, in settled wrath,
Since they despised my rest,
I
sware,
That they should never enter there.
PSALM 96.

[ocr errors]

ING to the Lord a new-made song; Let earth in one assembled throng her common Patron's praise resound: 1 2 Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, From day to day his praise proclaim,

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

who us has with salvation crown'd: 3 To heathen lands his fame rehearse, His wonders to the universe.

4 He's great,and greatly to be praised; In majesty and glory raised

above all other deities:

5 For pageantry and idols all

Are they, whom gods the heathen call; he only rules, who made the skies: 6 With majesty and honour crown'd, Beauty and strength his throne surround. 7 Be therefore both to him restored By you, who have false gods adored;

ascribe due honour to his name: 8 Peace-offerings on his altar lay, Before his throne your homage pay, which he, and he alone, can claim: 9 To worship at his sacred court, Let all the trembling world resort. 10 Proclaim aloud, Jehovah reigns, Whose power the universe sustains,

and banish'd justice will restore; 11 Let therefore heaven new joys confess; And heavenly mirth let earth express; its loud applause the ocean roar; Its mute inhabitants rejoice, And for this triumph find a voice. 12 For joy let fertile valleys sing, The cheerful groves their tribute bring, the tuncful choir of birds awake,

Gg

13 The Lord's approach to celebrate; Who now sets out with awful state,

his circuit through the earth to take: From heaven to judge the world bes come,

With justice to reward and doom.
PSALM 97.

JEHOVAH reigns, let all the earth
in just government rejoice;
Let all the isles, with sacred mirth,
in his applause unite their voice.
2. Darkness and clouds of awful shade
his dazzling glory shroud in state;
Justice and truth his guards are made,
and fix'd by his pavilion wait.

3 Devouring fire before his face,

his foes around with vengeance struck; 4 His lightning set the world on blaze; earth saw it, and with terror shook. 5 The proudest hills his presence felt, their height nor strength could help afford;

The proudest hills like wax did melt in presence of the Almighty Lord. 6 The heavens, his righteousness to show with storms of fire our foes pursued, And all the trembling world below

have his descending glory view'd. 7 Confounded be their impious host, who make the gods to whom they pray All who of pageant idols boast:

to him, ye gods, your worship pay. 8 Glad Sion of thy triumph heard,

and Judah's daughters were o'erjoy'd Because thy righteous judgments, Lord, have pagan pride and power destroy'd. 9 For thou, O God, art seated high, above earth's potentates enthroned, Thou, Lord, unrivall'd in the sky,

supreme by all the gods art own'd. 10 Ye who to serve this Lord aspire, abhor what's ill, and truth esteem; He'll keep his servants' souls entire,

and them from wicked hands redeem. 11 For seeds are sown of glorious light, a future harvest for the just; And gladness for the heart that's right, to recompense its pious trust. 12 Rejoice, ye righteous, in the Lord, memorials of his holiness Deep in your faithful breasts record, and with your thankful tongues confess. PSALM 98.

ING to the Lord a new-made song, SING to Lous thingy has done,

With his right hand and holy arın the conquest he has won.

2 The Lord has through the astonish'd
display'd his saving might, (wort
And made his righteous acts appear
in all the heathen's sight.

3 Of Israel's house his love and truth
have ever mindful been;
Wide earth's remotest parts the powe
of Israel's God have stru

« AnteriorContinuar »